Published: August 1, 2012

Racing Against History

Nathan Adrian’s 100-meter freestyle won gold. But how would he do against every medalist in this event – ever?

All the Medalists: Men’s 100-Meter Freestyle

Sources: "The Complete Book of the Olympics" by David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky, International Olympic Committee, Hungarian Olympic Committee, Bill Mallon; Photographs: Hungarian Olympic Committee, International
Olympic Committee, Vincent Laforet/The New York Times, Associated Press, Doug Mills/The New York Times

By KEVIN QUEALY and GRAHAM ROBERTS

One (imaginary) race with every medalist ever

Based on the athletes’ average speeds, if every Olympic medalist ever raced each other, France’s Alain Bernard (from the 2008 Games) would win,
with a wide distribution of Olympians behind him, including Wednesday's winner, Nathan Adrian. Below, where each swimmer would be when Bernard finishes his race.

Meters behind 2008 winner

The position of the swimmers is based on their average speed. I. Zoltán Halmaj won the event in 1904 when it was 100 yards; his projected finish is used here based on the same speed. Before 1906, the times
of the top three finishers are not all known, so only medalists with known times are plotted above. This chart and medal totals include medals for the U.S., Austria and Hungary in the "Intermediary"
Games of 1906, which the I.O.C. does not formally recognize.

Notable winners of the 100-meter freestyle

Hungarian Olympic Committee

Alfréd Hajós

Hungary

Hungary's first Olympic gold medalist, Hajós swam in 55-degree open water, in the Bay of Zea outside Piraeus, Greece. He also won the 1,200-meter swim.

1896, Athens

1:22.2

OR

I.O.C.

Johnny Weissmuller

United States

The first swimmer to break a minute in the Olympics. Later went on to play Tarzan in “Tarzan the Ape Man,” which
made him internationally famous.

1924, Paris

59.0

OR

1928, Amsterdam

58.6

OR

Associated Press

Mark Spitz

United States

Won seven gold medals in the 1972 Games in Munich; nearly withdrew from the 100-meter event because he wasn't sure if he would win. (He did, setting a world record.)

1968, Mexico City

53.0

1972, Munich

51.22

WR

Lyndon Mechielsen/Associated Press

Alexander Popov

Russia

One of only three athletes with three medals in this event; the first person in 68 years to win back-to-back golds after Weismuller did it in 1928.

1992, Barcelona

49.02

1996, Atlanta

48.74

2000, Sydney

48.69

All the medalists

The Times examines modern Olympic results in the context of 116 years of the Games.